Tour of Types Vocal Microphone Shootout: Shure SM7B vs AEA R44 CXE vs Manley Ref C vs Neumann U87Ai

[@NikolajHoelgaard]

As the Shure SM7B isn't a condenser, I think it would be wise for the talent to get a bit closer, as the audio usually thins out when being far away from the mic :)

[@vinceisdead6063]

That's what a mic pre is for homie lol

[@NikolajHoelgaard]

@@vinceisdead6063 A mic pre doesn't defy physics. Condensers and Dynamic microphones work in different ways. So boosting the volume wont fix anything. Sm7B is very low output to start with, so you'll only enhance issues like noise and and the thinning effect. I have the mics. I know how they work :)

[@vinceisdead6063]

@@NikolajHoelgaard I've owned an sm7b longer han you have been recording homie. I own better mic pres than youl ever be able to afford. Just because you suck with an sm7b and it sounds thin doesn't mean it actually is. You're just another loser in their moms basement with recording frar wish no idea how to really use it

[@phillipphillip367]

best room shoot out i ever heard

[@AngelAngelesIII]

I felt like she did injustice to the SM7B because of how far away she is from it. Nevertheless it held up pretty well. Actually was surprised how good she sounded on the ribbon mic with processing on. The warmth really gave life to her somewhat thin voice. The condenser mics were too crisp for me for her type of vocals but they actually sounded very clean. Some may want it that way to capture the grit of her voice but a little more warmth will make her vocals more lively and pleasing. I think if she got a feet closer to the SM7B she’ll sound best in this comparison because of how good it handles the low end and it’s actually warmer with the windscreen.

[@OllertonMD]

That ribbon mic has some very serious vintage vibes 🤩 Manley was insanely open and clear without sounding harsh.

[@creativesoundlab]

Feel free to use different mic positions. Personally, it does the mics better to match the proximity effect on the mic, rather than hope that the SM7B can keep up with the 6 foot proximity effect of the 44. You could say this shootout was rigged to make the 44 win with that distance. Set the distance at 2 inches for the sm7B and then the 44 looses and is extremely muddy. 2 inches would rig the sm7b to win over the 44 and maybe others. I want to encourage folks to start rethinking mic shootouts where all but one of the mics (Shootout Distance = That Mic's ideal distance) have a disadvantage because of a given placement. And this is just the start. How do we know these are level matched when some mics have more 3k, and some have less? The Fletcher Munson curve indicates that those mics with more 3k will seem louder, and we will need more volume from the mics with a scoop at 3k to be a fair comparison. Finally, which mic did the vocalist have in the headphones? Which mic was performed to? Lots to consider, and there has never been an ideal shootout. With all this said, in real life we would move the mics when we change them out, and I'd hope you feel empowered to experiment with this in future videos.

[@Eddunz1]

Was also thinking this.. But also wondering why that pop filter is there? At that distance, is there really a need?

[@Co0pAnimations]

U87 and the AEA R44 CXE were my favorites i feel like they handled her dynamics the best and stayed the most consistent.

[@timoheinrich8763]

On those quiet passages I loved the RC44 the most. There is something magical to it. On the loudest ones the Manley seemed to compress in a nice way that I liked a lot.

[@nolanneal]

Cool “room” shootout.

[@onlyjonesy8]

wow the r44 and u87 are my favorite here

[@alnicocustomshop3293]

U87 no doubt!

[@apshinn]

That Manley sounds amazing on her voice!

[@andrewaboy7771]

why is she a whole meter away from the mics

[@nolanneal]

Andrew Aboy I know! It’s like I’m watching mic shoot out videos in Hell.

[@carliiiartist]

Wow that Manley! I also enjoyed the ribbon mic. Very smooth.

[@TiqueO6]

Which microphone was she listening to on her headphones? It’s certainly true that a singer or instrumentalist will vary their performance depending on what they hear back while they’re performing! So while we think this is an objective test of the microphone sound it’s only half the picture. A singer will change the tone of their voice the placement of the sound in their body, their proximity to the microphone and even seemingly subtle changes make a huge difference! Instrumentals and singers will change the expression depending on what the air hearing back so it’s a huge issue! (Also sometimes you get a mic or cable that’s wired out of phase to the cans and you may really have to check it out to make sure that when you put those headphones on you’re not hearing it out of phase.)

[@noone-t8y]

I felt the SM7B was harsh when she peaked her vocal. The Manley tamed it, but the U87 was in my view the best choice for her choice, which surprised me. Did not care for the ribbon. It went beyond taming her vocal to dulling it. Opinions, like mileage many vary!

[@hurster]

Ribbons are like that, though. Generally you're going to apply a liberal amount of EQ after the fact and you know that going in.

[@CLdwyer]

Yeah this is strange. Why such distance? We hear so much room. The preamps also need to be driven much more to compensate (causing more variation/coloration) and we have no idea what the proximity effect is for these mics at all (which is how most will use them). An overall non-flattering mic shoot out.

[@EandVEntertainment]

Really liked the U87ai, which surprised me. I expected to like the Manley better. I also liked the SM7B. All three would have sounded better with a little more proximity effect, but you can't much closer to the 44 without crazy proximity.

[@MinisterTravis]

the manley killed everything

[@SoundReserveStudio]

@@MinisterTravis LMFAO it killed it alright... Made it sound like poop in this comparison.

[@MCAlvesPortugal]

U87 ai. Very clear on the voices vibratos of the singer. Very good Mic. Vs the others mics on this point.

[@melodychest9020]

U87 was the best and was the least harsh and so forgiving and more musical than the rest, as the whole package. The reason for this I believe is what feedback a mic gives to the singer to make them sing better!! The magic of U87 seems justified as it looks after you over the entire range of frequencies to make you perform better.

[@seanriley9045]

The Manley is incredible

[@Teamstack]

does she have a phobia of mics? why so far away??

[@sambot1337]

maybe to get the natural reverb of the room :)

[@Karizma231]

Maybe cos she is singing really loud at top of her voice

[@yapyap66]

Lucky they had a pop filter :)

[@valorous123]

She’s belting mate the farer the better lol jokes a apart she’s doing the right thing by keep the distance esp when she’s singing that loud or else voice will come too shrilly

[@nolanneal]

yapyap66 😂😂😂 couldn’t’ve said it better myself.

[@edgarmarinho6634]

This girl is amazing! I keep coming to this video to listen to her voice everytime. Does she have material out? Btw, the Manley wins this one

[@soundpurestudios]

Hi Edgar so glad you like the video! The singer's name is Ayisa Adderley from the band Eyes Eat Suns. They have tons of material out there, here's a link to their website: bit.ly/2CK8Nxp

[@caigecrampshee3709]

kzbin.info/door/mZRGxzXVm3IhtvQXoeMO9A

[@jebmcgovern3744]

Once in the mix the 7b and the AI worked better for her voice/this song. In isolation that Manley was beautiful.

[@ChrisJohnsonDrums]

Great video, thanks a ton.

[@JustMamba]

Anybody have any recommendation on rap vocals out of the manley and u87ai?

[@obbzerver]

About a tossup between the Manley and the Neumann.

[@christopherpederson1021]

i think the 87 won

[@CombatLegsVIDS]

I love the u87

[@torydanello2817]

i like that manley the best.

[@johnstarks5323]

Manley 4:41 Neumann U87 5:09

[@yozy4996]

Excellent Job.

[@STEViEZHUU]

At that distance the proximity effect is only perfect for the ribbon, the other mics should have been closer to the talent

[@henriqueseidy4752]

neumann softens everything

[@0208198772423758]

Genial .... buenas comparaciones

[@WhaddafrickTV]

KZbin compression does not do this test justice

[@RosieHollowayLondon]

Love her voice

[@jbeardmusic4235]

excellent shootout !!!!!!

[@jazmineyazmin]

I liked the SM7b in the mix the most, but also liked the R44 for the intimate passages. I'd use them together in the final mix. The u87 sounded decent solo'd but got lost in the mix. The Manley was too bright and muddy in the low end for my taste.

[@bravojrios5174]

lol @ the distance complaints. Proximity. more distance = less bass. you wont get much, if any, of the room if it's well treated like this. sounds perfectly fine on my end. cheers.

[@beatsforless8179]

wow ribbon mics are a hidden secret ! great shootout !!

[@ezrashanti]

A hidden secret? They're the oldest and used all of the time no?

[@tajdidajman4889]

the manley, its lets brittle on the higher end versus the other mics

[@PHELCAN]

Didn't like the manley. The brightness just sounded grainy to me. I liked the character of the 44 the most.

[@kyfisher3662]

Would love to see the shoot out repeated in a badly treeted room to see how much it was me just liking the room haha

[@WhaddafrickTV]

Manley was best, but it's amazing how the $300 shure kept pace with the $5000 AEA, the $2000 manley and the $4000+ Neumann even whilst having very suboptimal placement for that mic. In the end though they all sounded good because there was a good singer with a good take.

[@SoundReserveStudio]

Manley was definitely not the winner at all LOL it was the worst in this comparison.

[@TheHungryPigeon]

@@SoundReserveStudio You're absolutely correct.

[@Itsallawesome]

5:06 u

[@lifemusic4r]

i loved ribbon

[@aashirgadi6429]

Cxe then the shure in that order

[@YouTechnoTube]

Manley Ref C

[@Itsallawesome]

4:38 man

[@maldonadocorrea]

Que difícil elegir y ser objetivo. Creo que para cantante para esa voz el u87. Me hubiese gustado una voz más grave . Un voice over para probar el mismo texto la misma toma grabada por los 4 al mismo tiempo. Amo el manley y el u87, me Parece una maravilla el AEA también. Descarto en ese nivel al shure pero en radio en vivo si el mejor junto con el ev re20. Personalmente elijo el u87 aunq en esta prueba el AEA fue mejor seguido por manley

[@bigdap100]

U87

[@konafama]

manley is too bright U87 and AEA sound best to me.

[@田中太郎-m7n5w]

3:42 5:05

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

Should have done with mics closer and no eq when mixed with music. Unfortunately this wasn't very useful. We did learn what your room sounds like.

[@bryanakcasu]

who sings this far from the microphone

[@devinbrines]

You spelled four wrong

[@PSORIK]

Manley Ref и только он.

[@TahuCampurchannel]

Awesome mic , but i think sm7 the best choice, cheap and overall great

[@anatol1204]

Finally a not blind test..the voice however ..(somebody has to tell the truth to the people..)

[@Bsdetectors]

All really depends on the preamps and the settings so these tests tell nothing at all. I can make a great mic sound crappy with EQ, over compressed, etc. I can also sell shit to a bull.

[@renecarranza4500]

Manley

[@edgarmarinho6634]

I think Manly wins this one!

[@qw1419xtj]

God! That room sounds HORRIBLE

[@nolanneal]

qw1419xtj agreed. Super small rooms in mono on vocals sound the worst. No one should ever sing loudly that far from a mic. Who is the engineer... the owners son? 🤦🏻‍♂️ these hurt to watch. Such great mics wasted.

[@BorgoDrums]

Should have used a SDC as well!

[@ChrisKadaver]

She really should stay away from using that kind of tones causing those horrible frequencies. My ears auto-clip no matter how much I lower the headphones level. Maybe those tones sounds good from within her head, but man... That's fucking horrible! Not even premium equipment could save her.

[@yuarko]

In my opinion Manley is the best

[@deszczak]

Manley Ref C was the worst, I liked the AEA R44 CXE the most, thanks.

[@theobereby7403]

1.AEA 2.U87 3.Shure and far away last 4.Manley

[@joodeworks5163]

manley is the winner..

[@SoundReserveStudio]

WHAT?? You're crazy... It must be because you own one because it was the least favorable out of them all in this comparison LOL The AEA and U87 sounded way better and I own a U87 and I think the AEA even sounded better in this comparison with her voice and that terrible sounding room.

[@qw1419xtj]

This sounds HORRIBLE.

[@polloalforno]

Disturbing song

[@ronedwards8239]

The vocals are horrific. She needs to sing something in a lower register.

[@zachthetye]

She does a great job, you're just jealous.

[@caigecrampshee3709]

kzbin.info/door/mZRGxzXVm3IhtvQXoeMO9A

[@mattstrash]

Are you insane?

[@melodychest9020]

I agree it was not spot on to my ears at all especially when she hit the high note just before the end, EXCEPT when she sang into the U87 which was so much better to my ears.